Written answers
Thursday, 18 June 2015
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
Homeless Accommodation Funding
Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when funding from the national homelessness budget for 2015 will be allocated to the regions; the amount each region will receive; if it will increase compared to last year; the delay in the allocation of the 2015 funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24449/15]
Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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262. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the midlands region will continue to receive the same percentage of funding or higher from the national homelessness budget for 2015, in view of the fact that there is a national budget of €55 million this year, €10 million higher than last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24450/15]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.
I have made an additional €10.5 million available nationally for homeless accommodation and related services in 2015. This is an increase in funding of approximately 20% over the initial allocation in 2014, bringing the Exchequer contribution to €55.5 million. Housing authorities were recently informed of regional funding allocations. Of this total, over €2.5 million has been transferred to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in respect of domestic violence refuges which previously received funding from housing authorities; State funding for these services will now be entirely routed through Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
From the remaining funding I have made the following regional allocations under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.
| Dublin | €37,160,470 |
|---|---|
| Mid-East | €934,267 |
| Midlands | €794,972 |
| Mid-West | €3,499,898 * |
| North-East | €977,737 |
| North-West | €387,643 |
| South-East | €2,394,619 * |
| South-West | €5,000,686 |
| West | €1,698,834 |
*Following the amalgamation of North and South Tipperary County Councils into Tipperary County council in 2014, the realignment of Tipperary County Council into the Mid-West Region is pending.
The Midlands Region, for which Westmeath County Council is the lead-authority, received an allocation of €649,707 last year. Therefore, this year’s allocation for that region represents an increase in funding of more than 22%.
Under Section 10 funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of such services from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Section 10 funding arrangements. The needs of the various regions are kept under review on an on-going basis.
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